Calif. court to rule on gay marriage ban

SAN FRANCISCO, May 22 (UPI) -- The California Supreme Court said Friday it will rule next week on the constitutionality of a ballot measure that reinstated a ban on same-sex marriage.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the court said it would release its ruling Tuesday.

The high court's opinion on Proposition 8 will determine whether an estimated 18,000 same-sex marriages will continue to be recognized by the Golden State, the newspaper reported.

Opponents have said the proposition was tantamount to an illegal constitutional revision. For his part, state Attorney General Jerry Brown has called on the justices to reject the measure because it took away an inalienable right without compelling justification.

The Times said that during oral argument in March, all of the justices expressed support for upholding existing marriages.

The newspaper noted that it is unclear how the court will rule because there are three legal issued in play: the revision challenge, the attorney general's challenge and the fate of existing same-sex marriages.